We would like to share with you the extraordinary experience we had during a recent 1818 Society tour to Tuscany. Many of us have traveled to Italy often and Tuscany in particular, but this one-week tour was special. Secret Tuscany is hosted by two wonderful Italian 1818 Society members Bonizella and Giovanni. Their stunning villa in the Tuscany countryside south of Siena has been in their family for several generations. Together with our wives, we joined seven other guests for a magical week which only multi-generational owners in the area could provide. The ivy covered historic villa was stately, comfortable, filled with family antiques, rare books, heirlooms and paintings, facing an inviting swimming pool with a magnificent panoramic view of iconic rolling Tuscan hills, clusters of ancient villages and hamlets, vineyards and tall cypress trees. It is a large estate with an olive grove producing the finest extra virgin olive oil and access to the family organic vineyard. Fresh pecorino, burrata cheese and yoghurt comes from the neighboring farm. The organic vegetable garden produces fresh healthy ingredients for the chef’s culinary creations.
The daily program incorporates downtime at the villa and relaxing by the pool, but also guided tours to nearby picturesque Tuscan towns, much less visited by tourists, but with spectacular churches and museums filled with Italian art, medieval and Etruscan castles, buildings and houses, shops, restaurants and gardens. Included this week were Trequanda, Pienza, Montalcino, Arezzo, Vico d’Elsa, San Gimignano, Siena, Asciano and a secluded monastery at Monte Oliveto. Most of the delicious meals were served at the villa by their chef and on several occasions we dined in restaurants handpicked by our Italian hosts in the towns we visited to introduce us to authentic local Tuscan cuisine. We enjoyed a special lunch and wine tasting at Fattoria Majnoni Guicciardini, a boutique organic vineyard owned by Giovanni’s family in the Chianti wine region. There was also a cooking class with a renowned Tuscan chef and dinner served by the pool, and cheese tasting made by local shepherds.
Our Italian hosts were so gracious and welcoming and opened all the secret doors in their community. By the end of the week our group bonded like a typical Italian family, having lively conversations around the table, al fresco with a good glass of wine. Solid friendships were made at Villa Bonizella. On the last night, in the balmy Tuscan evening over dinner by the pool, Lester entertained us all by reciting a poem he wrote (below) to capture this unique experience and thank Boni and Giovanni for their warm hospitality and sharing their piece of Tuscan paradise.
Boni’s Secret Tuscany
In Tuscany’s embrace, where sunlight weaves,
Through olive groves and cypress-shielded leaves,
The rolling hills carved by time,
Landscapes of the mind and soul, sublime
Across the expanse of ancient lands,
With vineyards tendered by caring hands
Bonizella and Giovanni, our gracious hosts,
Unlocked Tuscan secrets to give us the most.
Thank you for opening your villa wide
Where warmth, grace and love reside
The walls of stone, pictures, books and antiques with stories told,
Imbued us with your memories pure and bold.
Each meal, each laugh, beneath the moonlit skies,
Wove memories that time cannot disguise.
We walked to the shepherd to buy pecorino cheese
With the shop guarded by two over protective geese
The villages and the secrets they unveiled
Through cobbled streets where ancient history prevailed.
Including Ghino di Tacco much assailed
Allegedly a local Robin Hood
Who gave the peasants all the spoils he could
The search for Somensatto’s castle
Caused endless yearning
Its exact whereabouts requires further learning
The family coat of arms yet to be found
Perhaps Eduardo can use AI to break new ground
From San Gimignano’s towers soaring high,
To Trequanda’s silence beneath the Tuscan sky
The Pienza Cathedral with falling aspe
With medieval walls around securely wrapped.
Montalcino, its Brunello wines, dry and sweet,
With wine shops lining all the streets
Siena’s busy Piazza del Campo,
And don’t forget the massive Duomo
Its green and white stripes are Gothic Tuscan,
Hard to believe it was earlier Etruscan
In the Palazzo Pubblico to the World Bankers’ delight,
Lorenzetti’s “Effects of Good Governance” in dramatic full sight
The Arezzo Cathedral dedicated to patron Saint Donatus
The bishop whose head was ordered by Emperor Julian to be separatus
The stunning frescos by Piero della Francesca
And Spinello Aretino’s work in the chapel of San Domenico Basilica
The horses and band of Lancia d’Oro,
Was a highlight to our visit to this Etruscan tesoro
Visiting Vico d’Elsa to meet wine fam-ILY
And lunch at Fattoria Majnoni Guicciardini.
The Abbazia di Monte Oliveto Maggiore
Reminded us of God’s enduring glory.
Our Italian is getting much better
Even Eduardo knows how to pronounce bruschetta.
That’s how I remember to say Asciano
I make it rhyme with San Gimignano.
The food we made at Chef Giancarlo’s cooking class,
Taught us about Tuscan cuisine from the past.
I tried so hard to knead my pici
But it always seemed to stay so squishy.
Each hidden Tuscan path and square, each sacred stone,
Revealed their truths, with guides and tours you made our own.
Your care, your knowledge, unlocked these timeless lands,
Like keys to history held in expert hands.
For every moment shared, memories and for every view,
Dear Boni and Giovanni-we offer endless thanks to you
Both gracious marchese and marchesa
Living in a perfect place-a
Italian nobility survives in all its glory
We can never forget your every story
We will miss every one of your devoted staff
Especially Pasquale’s saxophone
Which made us laugh
In Tuscany’s soft glow and changing light,
our hearts will stay, whatever our plight
Your villa’s secrets now home in our souls,
We leave, but carry forth indelible impressions and the tales you told.
Dear Boni and Giovanni: Grazie mille
From your latest 1818 Society famiglia
Lester Dally, August 6, 2025
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Member’s blog posts reflect the views of the author(s), drawing on prior research or personal experience. Freedom of expression is an essential part of the 1818 Society’s culture. The 1818 Society® is a nonpartisan, independent organization and does not take institutional positions. Members are welcome to add their comments in the box below.
KEYWORDS cultural tour, Italy, Tuscany, villa
Lester, wonderful poem which captures beautifully much of why Mary Lou and I chose to retire on the Umbrian/Tuscan border. Wish we had known you were here at the time – we would have come to visit as we are only 40 minutes from Pienza. Next time.
I took this trip in 2023 and you are right, it was a wonderful experience. At that time, there was a guitar in the villa, which Bonizella brought to the living room. She and I had a great time entertaining the group in the evening with musical harmonies!
Fully agree with the review. We also had a magical experience with the sincere warmth, hospitality of Boni and Giovanni (and efficiency of their well run establishment). A memorable trip they organized last fall. Thanks!